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Operations Manager - JEl Finishing Plant

About the Role

Are you a strategic manufacturing leader with a background in high-precision, highly regulated environments? Orion Castings is seeking a high-caliber Operations Manager to lead our JEl finishing plant in Chelmsford, MA. As an AS9100 and NADCAP certified facility, we specialize in high-spec surface preparation and finishing for the military, aerospace, and medical device sectors.

In this top plant management position, you will be directly responsible for driving profitability, sustaining business growth, and ensuring our operations flawlessly maintain the uncompromising quality standards required by our critical-application customers.

As a hands-on champion of continuous improvement, you will bridge the gap between corporate strategy, tight regulatory compliance, and shop-floor execution. If you bring a strong foundation in manufacturing leadership, paired with a passion for leading people, managing complex production schedules, and maintaining elite industry certifications, we want you on the Orion Castings team.

Compensation & Schedule

• Salary: $92,200 - $120,300
• Schedule: First Shift

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and more!
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 11 Paid Company Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid company training
• Career advancement opportunities

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Plant Leadership & Vision

• Manage and direct the JEl plant management staff to achieve business alignment, monthly budgetary/profitability targets, and divisional quality plans.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Enforce and promote synchronous manufacturing to optimize throughput and quality on our painting and finishing lines.
• Drive ongoing lean initiatives, Gemba walks, and corporate compliance.

Rigorous Certification & Audit Readiness

• Enforce strict conformance to all applicable procedures, work instructions, and industry-specific regulations.
• Drive and direct the completion of action item lists for plant corporate and third-party quality audits, including AS9100 and NADCAP.

Quality & Corrective Action

• Lead structured APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) activities and scheduled corrective-action meetings to maintain a zero-defect environment, ensuring task assignments are completed on time.

Customer & Vendor Liaison

• Act as the primary operational interface for high-profile military, aerospace, and medical customers.
• Maintain a strict focus on achieving 100% on-time delivery and implement immediate, documented countermeasures if targets are missed.

Culture, Coaching & Team Development

• Spend active, daily time circulating on the shop floor to foster open communication, mentor supervisors, support the plant quality mission, and build a high-performance, inclusive team spirit.

Key Position Competencies & Requirements

Required Experience & Technical Knowledge

• Minimum of 10 years of experience within the manufacturing industry.
• Direct experience operating within and maintaining AS9100 and NADCAP certified environments is highly preferred.
• Knowledge of industrial paint, coating, or finishing processes is a strong plus (e.g., surface prep, liquid coatings, powder coating, or specialized military/medical finishes).
• Proven track record as a leader in Gemba walks and continuous improvement environments.
• Direct experience successfully interfacing with demanding, high-spec customers and vendors.
• Ability to manage complex task levels and tight lead times in a fast-paced environment.

Management Qualities & Interaction with Others

• Leadership & Influence: Ability to build instant credibility, lead with authority, and challenge the status quo to shift traditional mindsets toward modern, lean manufacturing practices.
• Coaching & Mentoring: Passion for developing talent, facilitating groups, and managing staff performance.
• Collaboration & Relationship Building: A natural team player who can build trust and communicate seamlessly with everyone from front-line production associates to senior corporate executives.
• Political & Organizational Savvy: Skillful at navigating organizational dynamics, advocating for plant needs, and presenting complex operational information clearly.

Cognition & Personal Effectiveness

• Analysis & Problem Solving: Exceptional reasoning, creative thinking, and decision-making judgment to handle complex operational bottlenecks.
• Fiscal Accountability: Strong financial acumen with direct accountability for monthly plant financial targets and cost-containment.
• Core Professional Attributes: High accountability, stress tolerance, adaptability, results-focus, and an uncompromised commitment to ethics, integrity, and safety compliance.

Technical Software

• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Minitab statistical analysis software.